Tuesday, December 13, 2005

UN police stop Kosovo prison breakout

"Fourteen inmates attempted to break out of the yard of the Dubrava prison (in western Kosovo) late Monday," local police spokesman Refki Morina told AFP, adding the incident was followed by sporadic gunfire from outside the jail.

"A Romanian unit of the UNMIK (UN mission in Kosovo) police force intervened immediately and after an exchange of fire with unknown persons... thwarted the breakout attempt," he added.

There were no casualties from the failed bid to flee the prison, according to Morina.

Kosovo has been under United Nations administration since a NATO-led bombing campaign in 1999 forced the withdrawal of Serbian troops from the province.